Non-interference signal-box.



Patented Oct. 30, I900.

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.(No Model.)

in. 660,620. Patented Oct. 30, 1900.

F. w. COLE.

NON-INTERFERENCE SIGNAL BOX.

' (Application filed Nov. 18, 1899 {J40 Model.) 2 Sheets-Shoat 2.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES FIRE AND POLICE TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS. w

NON-INTERFERENCE SIGNAL-BOX.

sPEciFIoATIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 660.620. dated October so, ieoo. Application filed November 13, 1899. Serial lilo. 736,760. (No model.)

To col/Z whom, it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. COLE, of Newton, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Non-lnterference Signal-Boxes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to signal boxes, and has for its objects to improve the construction of the transmitter of the signal-box in many particulars and also to provide means for disabling the non-interfering device of the boX, in case the l)OX is provided with such devices, for at least one complete round of the signal, so that in any event one complete round of the signal will be transmitted.

My invention consists in a transmitter having a locking-lever adapted to engage the signaling-key and hold it with the circuit-contacts closed when the transmitter is at rest; also, in means for positively moving said locking-lever in both waysin one way to release the train and in the opposite way to stop the train; also, in certain improvements in the winding mechanism of the transmitter; also, in a transmitter having a locking-lever adapted to engage the signaling-key and holdit with the circuit contacts closed when the transmitter is at rest, and means for operating said locking-lever to first release the train and after a predetermined length of time release the signaling-key; also, in a signal-box havinfganon-interfering device for the transmitter, a locking-lever for the train adapted to hold the signaling-key with the circuitcontacts closed when holding the train at rest and also at the same time adapted to hold the armature of the non-interference magnet in its attracted position, and means for operating said locking-lever to release the train and armature at or about the same time and thereafter release the signaling-key, and also in a signal-box having a non-interfering device for the transmitter and a disabling device for said non-interfering device,which are adapted to operate in such manner as to positively insure at least one complete round of the signal being transmitted.

l Figure 1 shows in front elevation a signalbox transmitter embodying this invention provided with a non-interfering device and a disabling device for said non-interfering device, whereby at least one complete round of the signal will be transmitted, the transmitter being shown in its normal position of rest.

Fig. 2 is a detail of the locking-lever and parts,

attracted position by the non-interference magnet. Fig. 4 is a detail of the locking-lever and parts working in conjunction with it, the locking-lever being still further moved to release the signaling-key, which has dropped into the first notch of the signal-wheel. Fig. 5 is adetail showing particularly the disabling device for the non-interfering device, whereby said non-interfering device is positively held while at least one complete round of the signal is being transmitted. Fig. 6 is a detail showing in plan view the disabling device illustrated in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a rear side view of the locking-lever, and Fig. 8 is an edge view of the locking-lever.

ct represents the winding-arm, which is secured to a shaft to, havingits bearings in the side plates, which form a cooperative part of the frame, and to said shaft a one end of a mainspring a is secured, the opposite end of said spring being secured to the frame, as usual in signal-box transmitters. A sector I) is secured to said shaft a, which engages a pinion b, secured to a shaft b bearing a toothed wheel b and as the winding-arm a, is operated in the usual manner the toothed wheel 1) will be turned backward or in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, say, less than a complete revolution, and as the windingsition.

projecting from it, which lies in the path of ing toothed wheel b engages a pinion 0, (see dotted lines, Fig. 1,) which is sleeved or otherwise mounted loosely upon a shaft to be turned backward or in one direction by said toothed wheel 19 when the latter is turned backward by operating the winding-arm a, and said pinion c, or it may be the sleeve bearing it, carries a ratchet-wheel 0 (see dotted lines, Fig. 1,) which is engaged by a pawl 0 carried by a toothed wheel 0 which is secured to said shaft 0. The toothed wheel e engages a pinion d, secured to a shaft 61, carrying the escape-wheel d with which oooperates any usual or suitable pallet (1 The signal-wheel e is also secured to said shaft 0, and it is herein represented as a wheel commonly known in the art as an open wheel.

The signaling-key is pivoted to the frame at f, and it is herein shown as composed of two arms f f projecting more or less at right angles to each other, and the arm f projects. over the signal-wheel e and has a projection f which is adapted to be engaged by the teeth of said signal-wheel as the latter revolves to thereby lift said armf repeatedly as the teeth of the signal-wheel pass beneath said projection.

The circuit-contacts 2 3 are made as springacting pens secured to a block of insulating material, and said pens 2 3 are located just above the arm f, so as to be engaged and closed together by said arm when the latter is lifted and to separate by their inherent spring action when not engaged by said arm.

The arm f of the signaling-key projects upward and is engaged by a pin 4 on the locking-lever g of the train when the transmitter is at rest, and when thus held by the pin 4 the arm f of the signaling-key will be held in its elevated position, or thereabou't, so that the circuit-contacts 2 3 will be normally held closed when the transmitter is at rest. Thus it will be seen that the lockinglever g for the train normally holds the signaling-key with the circuit-contacts 2 3 closed when it holds the transmitter at rest.

The locking-lever g is pivoted at g to the frame, and it has an engaging portion g on its under side, which is engaged by a pin 6, projecting laterally from the reciprocating wheel 12 when the transmitter is at rest, said pin'6 serving to hold said locking-leverin its normal elevated position at such time, and said pin 6 also serves to lift said locking-lever, and thus restore it to its normal elevated position as the transmitter ceases to operate,

by engaging the under side of the lockin -lever and lifting it as the reciprocating wheel b bearing said pin 6, resumes its normal po- The locking-lever g has also a finger g the pin 6 and is adapted to be engaged by said pin 6.as the latter is moved with the wheel b when said wheel 5 is turned backward by the sector, and when said pin 6 thus engages said finger g the locking-lever g will be positively moved into position to permit the train to, operate. The fingerjg is made quite long, and only its lower extremity projects into the path of movement of the pin 6, so'that said finger will not be engaged by said pin 6 until the wheel b has been turned backward far enough for the train to operate and cause around or a definite number of rounds'of the signal to be transmitted. If the wheel 19 should be turned backward but a short distance the locking-lever g will not be operated, for while the pin 6 would be removed from beneath the engaging portion g yet said lever would be held by the other means, as will be described. Therefore it will be observed that the locking-lever g is positively and mechanically moved in opposite ways, in one way to stop the train at a predetermined point and in the other way to permit the train to operate, and no spring is employed for the purpose of moving it, as is usual, which, as is well known, cannot at all times and under all conditions be depended upon, and, furthermore, that positive move ment of the locking-lever g in one way is accomplished by movement of the windingarm and in the opposite way by the train in running, and, furthermore, both of said movements are given to the locking-lever by the 5 same device or partas, for instance, by the pin 6which materially simplifies the construction, and, furthermore, the locking-iever will not be moved to permit the train to operate until thewheel b has been turned backward for a considerable distance, all of which results are important.

The locking-lever g has secured to it a block which is formed with two engaging faces or portions g 9 the left side or end wall of said block serving as and constituting the engaging face or portion 9 while the engaging face or portion g is formed by cutting a groove crosswise the block and utilizing the upper side wall of said groove as said engaging face or portion. 7

A pin 7, (see Fig. 2,) which projects laterally from the wheel 0 strikes the engaging face or portion 9 when the locking-lever g is i'nits elevated position, (shown in Fig. 1,) and thus serves as a stop for the train; but when the locking-lever g is moved, as it will be by the pin 6 striking the finger y the groove in the block will be brought opposite the-pin 7, and thereupon as the train starts the said pin 7 will enter said groove and will travel along said groove from end to end. During the time that the pin 7 is traveling along in said groove the locking-lever 9 will be held partially elevated or in its intermediate position by the engaging face or portion g bearing upon said pin 7. The engaging face or por- ICO to fall into its lowermost position or until it strikes the stop 50, projecting from the frame. As soon as the locking-lever g thus falls into its lowermost position the pin 4 disengages J the arm f of the signaling-key, and the arm f of the said key will then move into engagement with the signal-wheel e. lhe signalwheel e is so disposed on its shaft that the first tooth will not arrive in position to engage the signaling-key for an interval of time longer than the longest closure in any signal, so that the arm f will first fall into the first notch of the signatwheel. It will be understood that as the locking-lever g is moved into its intermediate position the pin 4 will still hold the signaling-key with the circuit-con- Iacts 2 3 closed, and said contacts are there fore opened for the first time when the armf' falls into engagement with the signal-wheel e, which is after the train has run for a time longer than the longest closure in any signal and as soon as the locking-lever has been moved into its lowermost position.

76 represents the non-interference magnet, and its armature h is securedto a lever 77?, pivoted at 71 to a bracket on the frame, and said lever 7L2 projects down below its pivot as an arm and has at its lower extremity a laterally-projecting pin 8, which is adapted to engage the end of the locking-lever g when the latter is in its most elevated position, as represented in Fig. 1, so that at such time the armature will be positively held in its attracted position regardless of the condition of the circuit of the non-interference magnet; but as soon as said locking-lever g has been moved into its intermediate position to permit the train to operate the end of said locking-lever g is carried below and out of engagement with said pin 8, and said pin 8 being thus released the armature h is free to be retracted, providing the circuit of the non-interference magnet should be opened. The locking-leverg does not again engage the pin 8 during the entire operation of the train until just as the train ceases to operate,when said locking-lever will be raised to its normal elevated position and will again occupy a position opposite the pin 8, and thus again positively hold the arma ture in its attracted position, or if the armature should be retracted said lever will positively restore it. The armf of the signalingkey is long enough to also cooperate with said pin 8, occupying a position just to the right of said pin 8, and when said arm f is in its elevated position-as, for instance, when the box is at rest or whenever it is elevated by one of the teeth of the signalwvheel-dt will occupy a plane above said pin 8, so that the latter is free to pass beneath said arm f and lock it in elevated position. When the arm f is in its elevated position, the circuit-contacts 2 3 are closed, and consequently it is only when the circuit-contacts are closed that said pin 8 can pass beneath the arm. At all other times-as, for instance, when the arm f is in its lowermost position-the end of said arm comes directly opposite said pin 8 and serves as a stop for said pin 8, thereby looking or holding the armature in its attracted position, and as the circuit-contacts 2 3 are opened whenever the arm f is in its lowermost position it will be seen that the armature will be held by said arm f when said circuit-contacts 2 3 are thus opened. In other words, whenever the circuit-contacts 2 3 are open the armature 72/ will be mechanically held in its attracted position by the arm f and whenever the circuitconlacts 2 3 are closed the armature is free to be retracted,and if rel racted the pin 8 will pass beneath the arm f and hold said arm in its elevated position with the circuit-contacts 2 3 closed.

Assuming that the box herein shown has the capability of transmitting four rounds of a signal, it is first intended that said box shall operate as a non-interference box for, say, two or three rounds, and then the final round or the last two rounds shall be transmitted regardless of the non-interfering device. It sometimes happens that the non-interfering device acts by reason of the current being very weak and, in fact, too weak to energize the non-interference magnet sufficientlyto hold up its armature, yet at the same time the line is free so far as other signals are concerned, and of course if the non-interfering device acts for any cause whatever no signal will be transmitted, and it is to obviate this objection to noni nterfering boxes of common type that the aforesaid result of transmitting at least one complete round regardless of the non-interfering device is provided, although it is obvious that two or more complete rounds may be transmitted under the same conditions. In carrying out this part of my invention a lever is pivoted'at to the frame, it having two arms 71 and the arm 4," projects in one direction and is adapted to engage a projection 77, secured to the shaft h of the arm ature-lever,to thereby positively restore the armature or hold it in its attracted position, and the arm '6 projects in another direction and is adapted to be engaged by a pin i on the sector at a predetermined time during the movement of said sector. Any other member of the train may be selected for carrying the pin 2' if desired. \Vhen the sector is operated to wind the spring and to also move the locking-lever g to release the train and set free the non-interfering device, the pin 1' will pass beneath the arm i leaving said arm 1? unrestrained, and consequently the arm 2" will not act upon the finger Ir"; but as the sector gradually resumes its normal position and if, say, two or three rounds of the signal have been transmitted the pin 11 will engage the arm 11 and move the arm i so as to engage the fingerh and either restore the armature h or hold it in its attracted position, and while the armature his so held the final round or one complete round of the signal will be transmitted.

armed lever t" F, as herein shown, servesas and constitutes a disabling device for the non-interfering device. Thus it will be seen that the non-interfering device is free to act during the first few rounds of the signal and is held inoperative or disabled for at least one complete round of the signal. So far as this part of my invention is concerned I do not desire to limit it to any particular construction, as so far as I am aware I am the first to accomplish this result.

represent the main-line terminals which lead into the boX, and they are connected, respectively, by screws 76 77 to a block of insulating material 78, and metallic pens 79 are secured to said block 78 by said screws 76 77, so that said pens are in electrical contact with said leading-in wires 70 75. The pens 79 80 extend along the opposite sides of the block 78 and project beyond the lower end of said block, and said lower projecting ends are bent slightly in different ways to provide a recess for the entrance of wedge-like block 90, of insulating material, having a metallic end piece or nose 91, said block being secured to and carried by an arm 92, which is secured to the winding-shaft a. When the wedge-block 90 occupies a position between the pens 79 80, its metallic end ornose 91 is in engagement with said pens and a short circuit established as follows: 70 76 79 91 807775. When the winding-shaft a is operated, this short circuit is broken. Also by referring to Fig. 1 a wire 60 leads from the terminal 75 to the contact-pen 2, and a wire 62 leads from the contact-pen 3 to the non-interference magnet h, and a wire 63 leads from said non-interference magnet h to the terminal 70.

1. In a signal-box transmitter, a train, a signal-wheel, circ nit-contacts 2, 3, a signaling-- key adapted to be engaged and operated by said signal-wheel to in turn operate said contacts and transmit the signal, a locking-lever for said train constructed and arranged to engage said signaling-key and hold it with the circuit contacts 2, 3 closed when the transmitter is at rest, substantially as described.

2. In a signal-box transmitter, a train, a signalwheel, circuit-contacts 2,3, a signalingkey comprising the arms f,f one of said arms, as f, occupying aposition between the signal-wheel and circuit-contacts to be engaged and operated by said signal-wheel, and a locking-lever for the train adapted to engage the other arm, asf of said signaling-key when the transmitter is at rest and hold said signaling-key with the circuit-contacts 2, 3, closed, substantially as described.

3. In a signal-box transmitter, a signalingtrain, a locking-lever for it and a device operated by the winding-arm for positively moving said locking-lever to allow the train to opcrate which is operated by the train in running to restore said locking-lever to its normal position, substantially as described.

4. In a signal-box transmitter, a signalingtrain, a locking-lever for it having an engaging portion g and a finger 9 a device operated by the winding-arm which engages said finger g and moves the locking-lever to allow the train to operate and which is operated by the train in running to restore said lockinglever, substantially as described.

5. In a signal-box transmitter, a signalingtrain, a locking-lever for it, a device for normally holding said locking-lever in position to stop the train and means for moving said device to positively move said locking-lever into position to allow the train to operate, substantially as described.

6. In a signal-box transmitter, a signalingtrain, a locking-lever for it, a device for normally holding said locking-lever in position to stop the train and means for moving said device to positively move said lockinglever into position to allow the train to operate, and means for also moving said device to positively restore the locking-lever to its normal position, substantiallyas described.

7. In a signal-box transmitter, a signalingtrain having the reciprocating wheel 12 a locking-lever for said train, a pinion on the shaft bearing said wheel 19 a sector engaging said pinion which is connected with the actuatingspring, and a pin 6 on said wheel 5 which restores said locking-lever and holds it in position to stop the train, substantially as described.

8. In a signal-boX transmitter, a signalingtrain having the reciprocating wheel 19 a locking-lever for said train having a fingerg a pinion on the shaft bearing said wheel b a sector engaging said pinion, the actuating-spring a with which said sector is connected, and a pin 6 on said wheel 19 which restores the lockinglever and holds it in position to stop the train and also engages said finger g to thereby move the locking-lever into position 'to allow the train to operate, substantially as described.

9. In a non-interference signal-box, a noninterference magnet, its armature, 'a signal:

ing-key adapted to cooperate with said armature as hereinafter stated, circuit contact 2, 3, operated by said signaling-key, a signalwheel, a train for operating said signal-wheel, alocking-lever forsaid train which when holding the train also holds the signaling-key with the circuit-contacts 2, 3 closed, and means for operating said locking-lever to first release the train and thereafter release the signalingkey to open said contacts 2, 3, said signalingkey when thus released and the circuit-contact 2, 3 thus opened locking the armature'in its attracted position, substantially as described.

10. In a non-interference sign al-box, a noninterference magnet, its armature, a signalwheel, a signaling-key and circuit-contacts 2, 3, operated by it, a train for operating said signal-wheel to in turn operate said signaling-key, a locking-lever for said train which when holding the train also holds the signaling-key with the circuit-contacts 2, 3, closed and also holds the said armature in its attracted position, and means for operating said locking-lever to release the train and armature and after a predetermined length of time release the signaling'key, substantially as described.

11. In a non-interference signal-box, a signali11g-train, a stop-pin carried by one of the moving members of said train, a lockinglever for said train having two engaging faces, one of which engages said stop-pin and thereby arrests the train and the other cooperates With said stop-pin to be held by it in an intermediate position for an interval of time longer than the longest closure in any signal, substantially as described.

12. In a non-interference signal-box, a signal-transmitter, a non-interference device, a disabling device for said non-interfering device and means for operating said disabling device during one complete round of the signal to prevent the said non-interfering device from performing its regular functions, substantially as described.

13. In a non-interference signal-box, a signal-transmitter, a non-interfering device, a disabling device for said non-interfering device and means for operating said disabling device during the final round of the signal to prevent the said non-interfering device from performing its regular functions, substantially as described.

14. In a non-interference signal-box, a signal -transmitter, a non interfering device, means for permitting said non-interfering device to act freely for an interval of time longer than the longest closure in any signal prior to the transmission of the first impulse, means for disabling the non-interfering device during the intervals of time that the circuit contacts 2, 3, of the transmitter are open, and means for also disabling the noninterferiug device during one complete round of the signal, substantially as described.

15. In a non-interference signal-box, a signal-transmitter, a non-interfering device, and a device operated by one of the cooperating parts of the signaling-train for holding said non-interfering device disabled duringa complete round of the signal, substantially as described.

16. In 'a non-interference signal-box, a signal-transmitter, a non-interfering device,and a device operated by one of the cooperating parts of the signaling-train for restoring the non-interfering device and for holding it restored a complete round of the signal, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK W. COLE.

Witnesses: I

B. J. NoYEs, J. L. HUTCHINSON. 

